Pellet distribution



July 31, 1962 E. WESCHE 3,046,674

PELLET DISTRIBUTION Filed June 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 31,1962 E. WESCHE 3,046,674

PELLET DISTRIBUTION Filed June 5, 1958 2 heetsheet 2 "In I United States Patent O 3,046,674 PELLET. DISTRIBUTION Ernest WeSche WelIsvilIe,N.Y., assignor, by mcsue assignments, .to Combustion Engineering, Ina, a corporation of Delaware Filed'June 5, 1958," Ser. No. 740,051 2 Claims. (Cl. 34-171) The present invention relates to apparatus adapted to provide an eflicient contact between a stream of gas or gaseous vapor and a stream of oppositely moving granular solids. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus that distributes a mass of descending pellets or granular solids throughout a given space and simultaneously retards their descent through a stream of gas for a period of time sufiicient to provide a thorough mixing that induces an efficient transfer of heat therebetween.

In the design of pellet heat exchange apparatus or chemical reactors the time pellets must be immersed in a particular fluid to secure a predetermined efficiency of operation is dependent to a great extent upon the thoroughness by which the pellets and gases have been mixed. The principal object of this invention is therefore to provide means for effecting an optimum of pellet distribution and retention so as to insure an eflicient mixing with gases flowing in opposition thereto. Other objects of my invention will become more apparent from consideration of the accompanying disclosure of which the following drawing drawings are a part.

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation showing the basic form of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section on line 22 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section on line 33 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of an end plate used of opposite ends of the apparatus.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate various applications of apparatus built according to this invention.

in accordance with FIGURE 1 of my invention, I provide a cylindrical housing 1d having a pair of end plates 12 at opposite ends thereof connected to the housing to provide an integral structure. The end plates 12 are formed with a circular opening divided into sectors by radial arms 16 having a centrally located rotor support section 18 with a concentric opening 22 therein. The openings 22 in the upper and lower end plates are adapted to receive a support rod 24 extending axially therebetween. The rod 24 is centrally positioned to provide a pivot about which a series of pellet deflecting fans 28 are adapted to rotate. The fans 28 are'spaced apart by stationary annular spacers 32 having a plurality of vanes extending radially outward into a contacting relationship with the inner wall of cylindrical housing 10. The broad axis a of each vane is disposed substantially parallel to the central axis of housing whereby fluid is directed axially between deflecting fans 28. The fans 28 each comprise a series of radially extending vanes that are inclined approximately 45" from the horizontal, the vanes of alternate fans 28 usually being inclined oppositely in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

In operation the device thus defined is adapted to be used as a combined pellet distributor and fluid contacting chamber as illustrated in FIGURE 4 where the housing 10 and its axially spaced deflecting fans provide an optimum of pellet retention together with a high degree of pellet and fluid distribution that results in an eflicient mixing and a high heat transfer efliciency.

A flanged fitting 38 having a pellet inlet port 42 and a fluid outlet port 44- is provided at the upper end of housing 10 while a similar fitting 46 having a fluid inlet port 43 and a pellet outlet 52 is coupled to the lower. end plate flan e to provide entrance and discharge ports for the granular material and for the fluid.

Two such assemblies serially connected in the manner disclosed in FIGURE 4 willprovide anupper chamber for the transfer of heat from the hot gases to the granular solids and a lower chamber for the transfer of heat from the granular solids to a relatively cool fluid flowing oppositely therethrough. In the upper chamber hot fluid entering through port 48 ascends in opposition to the descending pellets and is discharged through port 44 after having given up a quantity of heat to the descending pellets. in the lower chamber cool fluid entering through port 54 passes in opposition to the descending pellets and is exhausted through outlet port 56 after having received a quantity of heat therefrom. After having given up heat to the cool fluid in the lower chamber, the then cooled pellets are exhausted through a pellet outlet port 58 to a conveyor 6%) where they are returned to a hopper 62 above the upper contacting chamber for a repeat cycle of operation.

In their descent pellets from hopper 62 are fed to the top of chamber 10 where they fall upon the blades of distributing fans 28. The force of the pellets striking oppositely inclined blades causes alternate distributing fans to rotate in opposite directions thereby providing a rapid and effective dispersal of the pellets, restraining their descent and providing a simultaneous mixing with the contrafiowing gases. The intermediate vanes 34 serve to direct swirling fluid from the rotating blades of one distributing fan 28 axially upward to the oppositely rotating blades of the next adjacent distributing fan thereby incurring a minimum of pressure loss therebetween.

A modified form of the invention is disclosed in FIG- URE 5 where a conventional free flight pellet type heat exchange device 63 is provided with a fluid inlet port 66 and a fluid outlet port 63. superposed on the heat exchanger 63 is a distributing device 64 which encloses a series of distributing fans 28 of the type disclosed. In this arrangement all ascending fluid is exhausted at an outlet port 68 whereby the sole purpose of distributing fans 23 is to adequately disperse the pellets prior to their A entry into chamber 63 for their contact with the contraflowing fluid.

While this invention has been described with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing it is evident that numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended that all i i V matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative gaseous fluid through the housing, pellet retarding and distribution means arranged axially within said housing to retard the descent of the pellets and intermix them thoroughly with the gaseous fluid, said retarding and distribution means including an axial pivot rod supported concentrically within the housing on spaced radial supports; a series of axially spaced fan-like distributing elements rotatably mounted on said pivot rod, said fan-like element comprising essentially a series of laterally spaced radial blades that rotate freely upon contact with'the descending pellets to retard their descent and distribute their flow throughout the housing While simultaneously permitting the ascent of gaseous fluid through the spacing between the blades to provide an optimum contact with the pellets.

2. A pellet heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the blades of alternate elements of said series of axially spaced fan-like distributing elements are oppositely inclined to induce counter-rotation thereof when struck by descending pellets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (lein Oct. 12, 1915 Beers Feb. 7, 1922 Heppner July 23, 1946 Redding Aug. 9, 1949 Odell Jan. 1, 1952 Nettel June 18, 1957 Jahnig Sept. 2, 1958 

